PM denies secret prison allegations

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PM denies secret prison allegations

Published: 21/07/2009 at 01:45 PM
Online news: Local News

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva insisted on Tuesday morning that there was no secret prison for torturing terrorists in Thailand as reported by The Washington Post newspaper.

Mr Abhisit said there was no cooperation between the Thai government and the US in setting up a secret prison as alleged.

“It’s an old story and it is totally groundless as this government has never resorted to the use of violent means,” Mr Abhisit said. The report would not affect the summit between Asean and its dialog partners being held in Phuket.

The report in Sunday's edition of The Washington Post about CIA interrogations of suspected terrorists in 2002 mentions secret prisons in Thailand.

The prime minister said the report would have no impact on his scheduled meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the Government House at 5pm on Tuesday.

Clinton is stopping in Bangkok on her way to a regional security forum in Phuket, where she was scheduled to sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South-East Asia. The signing of the treaty would make the US one of the last allies of the Asean nations to do so.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban also dismissed the allegation about the secret prison, saying that the report was groundless.

Mr Suthep said it was suspicious that the report surfaced during the Asean meeting in Phuket.

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Writer: Bangkok Post.com

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Truth

Discussion 6 : 22/07/2009 at 07:12 AM6
It's possible the PM is suffering from 'Bill (Clinton) Syndrome (BS)...

You know...when he said:

"well that depends on what 'IS' means."
Steve

Discussion 5 : 22/07/2009 at 03:32 AM5
"....this government has never resorted to the use of violent means,”

Perhaps someone will explain to me why the PM and his cheerleaders keep denying that there IS a secret prison when the article is quite clearly saying that there WAS a secret prison - in 2002.

Does he have a problem with understanding the difference between past and present tenses?

Or is it (more likely) the usual smooth PR tactic of simply denying a different allegation than the one that has been made?

No surprise that Suthep plays his usual "it's a plot to undermine XYZ" card. Does he really think (or expect us to believe) that the Washington Post has any conceivable motive for undermining the ASEAN meeting? What a circus.........
Dennis Richardson

Discussion 4 : 21/07/2009 at 11:36 PM4
Well let's see, should we believe a highly respected newspaper with no financial ties to Thailand, one that had taken down the Nixon Administration for proving that President was a liar and a crook, or should we believe a Thai politician in a country where the news media is censored heavily.
Truth

Discussion 3 : 21/07/2009 at 08:36 PM3
Sure there are secret prisons in Thailand.

They're called 'Marriages to Thai women'.

These prisons can suck away all your money, getting you to support lazy family members... starting with getting you to pay a dowry. An idea that vanished in the west many years ago... but is still scammed here.

It also takes captive your heart... as you create children that are used as leverage.

Meanwhile, the Immigration people also have their hands in your pockets for as long as you stay.

Yea... there are definately secret prisons in in Thailand. All in the name of love.
homo_vulgariter

Discussion 2 : 21/07/2009 at 06:32 PM2
Given that the allegation is unfounded, there should be no problem in bringing a law suit for libel against the Washington Post, then. An allegation such as that made by the Washington Post is very serious; it brings Thailand into disrepute. I await the law suit. :-)
Max Neo

Discussion 1 : 21/07/2009 at 04:27 PM1
There is no doubt that the PM denies this as it is secret.

PM denies secret prison allegations